The Importance of Being SERENA
She’s Grand!
Serena Williams after winning her 5th Women Title at Wimbledon 2012
Can you believe that the genesis of tennis was such that players use to hit the ball with their hands? Soon after leather gloves follow, and eventually (four hundred years later – the 16th century to be exact) those gloves were replaced with an adaptive handle for effective hitting and serving of the ball. Oh my.
Photo via Getty Images
If the first technique was still true today, there’s no doubt that Anna Wintour would be the most efficient female player when it comes to serving with her back hand. Agreed? But I’m not here today to talk about the history of tennis. Instead, let’s talk about four of the greatest players around.
Center Court
Fashionista Central: Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour made a show of support for Serena during the women’s final match
Photo via EPA
Vogue magazine contributing editor Andre Leon Talley, Serena Williams, Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at Rodarte – Front Row – Spring 2011
Photo via Zimbio
She is unstoppable. And that’s a good thing. How wonderful it is to see that Serena Williams has fully checked in, after two long years of illness. Over the weekend at Wimbledon, she silenced her critics, and defeated her opponents by winning her 5th Wimbledon Title. Her career report card goes something like this: 14 Grand Slam singles titles. She is the sixth on the all-time list. Serena now ranks fourth in Grand Slam women’s singles titles, which she won during the open era, behind Steffi Graf (22 titles) and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 titles each). Among active players, male or female, she holds the most Major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Welcome back Serena!
Five times Wimbledon winner Serena Williams at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball
Source: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images Europe), via Zimbio
RAFA
Widely regarding as one of the greatest players of all time, for me, Rafa IS the greatest player ever. At 26 years of age, Nadal has the records to prove it. He has won eleven Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven French Open titles, the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles, a record 21 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, and was also part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011. And so on, and so forth. Rafael Nadal was sorely missed at Wimbledon the last couple of days.
The King Of Clay, Rafael Nadal
The Big Guns: Rafael Nadal showing his toned, athletic body while playing at
the beach of his native country, Majorca, Spain
The Perfectionist: Rafael Nadal
All images via Getty Images Europe
STEFFI
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf was the reason why I became interested in tennis. I remembered the first time I saw her on the court. I was mesmerized. Her game was flawless, and she was very much in charge. During her years as a tennis star, Steffi Graf accumulated a total of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court’s 24. HIGH NOTE: In 1988, Steffi became the first and only tennis player (male or female) to achieve the Calendar Year Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. How swashing!
Picture Perfect
Ex Tennis Star, Steffi Graf
A New Game
Steffi Graf and her husband, eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi
Photo via Sports Illustrated
ROGER
Leading Man
7th time Wimbledon winner, and 17th Grand Slam title winner, Roger Federer lifts the coveted trophy.
Photo via Getty Images
“You’re the reason we love it!” That’s what someone shouted at the champ during yesterday’s match. And how true that was.
Roger Federer continues to break all kinds of records. As the world already knows by now, he took home the big gun on Sunday, his 7th Wimbledon Grand Slam title, by digging deeper and deeper into his game as he terribly upset the people of Great Britain when he defeating their favorite son, Andy Murray. Roger, or as he is sometimes called, the Federer Express, has had a stellar career. He has amassed a staggering numbers of trophies and countless of accolades.
Roger Federer, 2011
The King Is Back
Roger Federer at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball
Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe) via Zimbio
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Center CourtFashionista Central: Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour made a show of support for Serena during the women’s final matchPhoto via EPA
Vogue magazine contributing editor Andre Leon Talley, Serena Williams, Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at Rodarte – Front Row – Spring 2011Photo via ZimbioShe is unstoppable. And that’s a good thing. How wonderful it is to see that Serena Williams has fully checked in, after two long years of illness. Over the weekend at Wimbledon, she silenced her critics, and defeated her opponents by winning her 5th Wimbledon Title. Her career report card goes something like this: 14 Grand Slam singles titles. She is the sixth on the all-time list. Serena now ranks fourth in Grand Slam women’s singles titles, which she won during the open era, behind Steffi Graf (22 titles) and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 titles each). Among active players, male or female, she holds the most Major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Welcome back Serena!
Five times Wimbledon winner Serena Williams at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners BallSource: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images Europe), via ZimbioRAFAWidely regarding as one of the greatest players of all time, for me, Rafa IS the greatest player ever. At 26 years of age, Nadal has the records to prove it. He has won eleven Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven French Open titles, the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles, a record 21 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, and was also part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011. And so on, and so forth. Rafael Nadal was sorely missed at Wimbledon the last couple of days.
The King Of Clay, Rafael Nadal
The Big Guns: Rafael Nadal showing his toned, athletic body while playing atthe beach of his native country, Majorca, Spain
The Perfectionist: Rafael NadalAll images via Getty Images EuropeSTEFFI
Steffi GrafSteffi Graf was the reason why I became interested in tennis. I remembered the first time I saw her on the court. I was mesmerized. Her game was flawless, and she was very much in charge. During her years as a tennis star, Steffi Graf accumulated a total of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court’s 24. HIGH NOTE: In 1988, Steffi became the first and only tennis player (male or female) to achieve the Calendar Year Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. How swashing!
Picture PerfectEx Tennis Star, Steffi Graf
A New GameSteffi Graf and her husband, eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre AgassiPhoto via Sports IllustratedROGER
Leading Man7th time Wimbledon winner, and 17th Grand Slam title winner, Roger Federer lifts the coveted trophy.Photo via Getty Images“You’re the reason we love it!” That’s what someone shouted at the champ during yesterday’s match. And how true that was. Roger Federer continues to break all kinds of records. As the world already knows by now, he took home the big gun on Sunday, his 7th Wimbledon Grand Slam title, by digging deeper and deeper into his game as he terribly upset the people of Great Britain when he defeating their favorite son, Andy Murray. Roger, or as he is sometimes called, the Federer Express, has had a stellar career. He has amassed a staggering numbers of trophies and countless of accolades.
Roger Federer, 2011
The King Is BackRoger Federer at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners BallSource: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe) via Zimbio